Why Bird Watching is Good for Your Kids

If you’re like many parents out there, it can be difficult to get your kids interested in activities that stretch farther than the game system or computer. With the sudden surge of technology, and the constant glorification and lure of these devices, modern-day kids are losing their curiosity for nature. In order to help keep the outside world fresh and exciting in your kids’ eyes, it’s important to try out a variety of fun outdoor activities. Bird watching is an activity that can be a useful trigger in reigniting the joy and mystery that comes with spending time outside, and if you’re considering trying it out with your own kids, here are a few ways it can be helpful.

Bird Watching Teaches Kids Responsibility

Bird watching is more than just sitting around waiting for the birds to show up in your backyard; you have to do something to get them there in the first place. By setting up a bird feeder, and putting your kids in charge of keeping it full, you’ll help teach them the responsibility of caring for other living things. Also, the more time and effort they put into making sure the yard is bird-friendly, the more feathered creatures will show up for them to observe. It’s a great way to demonstrate that hard work can generate a pleasant pay-off.

It Teaches them to Enjoy the Small Things

Learning to appreciate the small things in life (breathing in fresh air, smelling the roses, admiring the sunset, etc.) is an invaluable life lesson. By taking your kids away from the TV and into the outdoor world of birding, you’ll help them develop into more peaceful and content adults. Teaching your children at a young age to be grateful for the small treasures that nature offers can help prevent them from growing up with the “always needing more” mindset many adults have adopted today. It really is the simple things in life that are worth cherishing, and basking in the delight of a bird song or admiring the different patterns and features of a feather are outlets that allows your kids to discover this themselves.

Birding Helps Generate an Ongoing Interest for Learning New Things

It’s important that children grow up with a natural instinct and yearning to gain knowledge in a variety of areas. Studying how birds build their nests, why they migrate, and how to differentiate between different species’ markings and callings helps build an interest and appreciation for other organisms. The science of birds (ornithology) is a convenient one to learn because birds are everywhere. The best part about bird watching is you’ll never run out of new things to study or see; when your kids get the hang of enjoying the birds that frequent your backyard, you can plan exciting and adventurous nature hikes to see what different species you can observe in the wild. Showing your children that education is not limited to a classroom setting will increase their eagerness and willingness to expand and sharpen their own individual interests.

To sum it up, birding is a great activity that will help your kids see that the outside world is one to embrace and enjoy. Enjoying nature at a young age will help them become well-rounded individuals, and it’s a great way to indulge in some much needed family time.

 

What has been one of your favorite bird sightings?

Photo courtesy of Flickr:

Photo courtesy of Flickr:

Photo courtesy of Flickr:

Photo courtesy of Flickr: